How much music practice?

[TheWordsmithsApprentice]

DD is 9 and has just taken up a musical instruments. She is expected to practise for 30 minutes 5 times a week. Is this a normal expectation for a beginner / her age? It seems a lot but I rarely did any at her age!

I’d say 15/20 mins per day for around 5 days is fine.

I'm an adult learner so it may be different but my teacher recommended 30 mins per day for 5 days a week. She said that those who don't practice are wasting their time taking lessons.

I would start with a shorter length but keep the frequency. It helps to build the habit of ( nearly) daily practice. Start with 5-10 minutes then build up. If the teacher hasn't already, ask them for some direction on how to structure the practice eg warm on long notes, some scales, tricky bits of the piece, fun piece to end. If they have literally just started the instrument 30 minutes sounds like a lot without any direction.

If they have literally just started the instrument 30 minutes sounds like a lot without any direction.
She has had two lessons, so been playing for two weeks. It's a wind instrument and she finds it exhausting playing for so long! She is practising 5 times a week. I don't want her to be put off, but she feels bad she can't manage the full 30 minutes.

Sounds about right. I started at 10 min sessions two or three times a day. Then built up from there, so eventually two fifteen min slots, then maybe a ten and a twenty min slot until finally getting to 30 min.
For a wind instrument it’s about fingers/ muscle memory and embouchure. Combined with concentration, it’s no wonder she gets tired quickly.
I would start with small practice sessions and build from there.

30 minutes x 5 days per week is perfect. While she builds stramina and develops her embouchure, split the 30 minutes into shorter chunks - 10 minutes after school, another 10 while the dinner is cooking and then 10 minutes while bath is running. Something like that!

There is no magic formula for any instrument and while muscle memory is important for all instruments, it's especially key for woodwind and brass. While she is this early in her playing, a few days off in a row will make a difference.

that's loads for a beginner
my two have reached a good standard on half that.
(plus if she's on a double reed she will not physically be able to play for that long at that age)

Seems OK to me.

My dc didn't do that much, more like 15 mins, although they practiced every day. I'm sure they would have progressed more quickly if they had practiced more, but they were pursuing a hobby for fun rather than wanting to be virtuoso.

Build up to it. But unless she wants to play at Carnegie hall, keeping it fun and not a chore is much more important.

@TheWordsmithsApprentice

If they have literally just started the instrument 30 minutes sounds like a lot without any direction. She has had two lessons, so been playing for two weeks. It's a wind instrument and she finds it exhausting playing for so long! She is practising 5 times a week. I don't want her to be put off, but she feels bad she can't manage the full 30 minutes.

I teach clarinet, flute and saxophone. That is loads for a beginner, especially stamina-wise. 15-20 mins 3 or maybe 4 times a week would be perfect. If she can spend the first few minutes of her practice doing some long notes that will be far more beneficial than anything else, to get her tone production settled.

We can manage 5 times a week as long as the neighbours don't complain she plays on a Sunday! (Block of flats) I reckon, she's been playing around 10-15 minutes and breathing exercises for 5. Will get her to try some long notes. It seems to be a very loud instrument...

She does 4 other activities plus homework so splitting it into 10 minute slots 2-3 times a day isn't really practical. Obviously, it's more for fun and to learn about music at this stage, she hasn't told me of any desires to perform!